COLOMBO (Sri Lanka) - A teenager who escaped death but was left orphaned and homeless by the Asian tsunami met yet one more agony: gang rape, one of several cases of child abuse being investigated in the disaster zone, an official said.
Of all the human tragedies emerging from the worst natural disaster in decades, sexual abuse of vulnerable children in refugee camps must be among the most shocking.
But experts say it's not uncommon in times of conflict and trauma.
'When there is displacement and chaos, the possibility of this type of behaviour is higher,' Mr Harendra de Silva, head of the National Child Protection Authority, said on Saturday.
With nearly 1 million losing their homes, Sri Lanka has immediate concerns of survival, rolling out relief trucks as cargo planes ferry food, drinking water and medical supplies from donor nations.
But psychological and behavioural problems are certain to become more important as the authorities gain control over the life-threatening issues.
Mr De Silva said his governmental agency already is investigating several complaints of sexual abuse in centres housing tens of thousands of survivors.
So far, the cases of suspected abuse have been isolated. But officials are concerned that the trauma of the catastrophe, coupled with the close quarters in the refugee centres, could spawn many more cases.
'In the aftermath of displacement and shock you do see an increase of abuse and violence against women and children,' said Mr Ted Chaiban, head of the UN children's agency in Colombo.
He said Unicef was funding the survey by Mr de Silva's group to identify abused children and provide them with extra protection.
Mr De Silva gave few details of the case of the gang-raped 17-year-old girl, which occurred in the area of Galle on the southern coast but not in a refugee centre. Hours after being washed ashore and left orphaned and homeless, she was raped by six men, he said.
Since Friday, two other cases of suspected abuse of children were reported, including one by a man who attempted to molest his granddaughter, he said.
All the reported cases were in the south, he said after a tour of camps in the region. A team from his office will soon visit other areas. -- AP"
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You must be kidding me! So in times of severe trauma, shock and confusion, you gang rape a girl and molest your granddaughter?? I think this is just an excuse. Call me emotional but these people should be put to death! This is ridiculous!!
Thanks Adelyn. This is one shocking news.
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